toxicity - pesticides, herbicides and insecticides - Blackherbals.com

Continued from page 41 –– Wide Range of Diseases Linkedto PesticidesA retrospective cohort mortality study of aerial pesticideapplicator pilots, finds a significantly elevated risk forleukemia (OR 3.35).7Lymphoma – Cancers that originate in the lymphsystem are referred to as lymphomas and includeHodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin’slymphoma (NHL). Lymphomas are the most commontype of blood cancer in the U.S. It is the 7th mostcommon in adults and the 3rd most common cancer inchildren. The more common non-Hodgkin’s lymphomais a cancer of the immune system.The incidence of NHL has been increasing over the pastseveral decades and has doubled since the early 1970s.At publication, the database lists 46 studies linkingpesticides to lymphoma. According to the LymphomaFoundation of America, 75 out of all 99 epidemiologicstudies conducted on lymphoma and pesticides find alink between the two. The report states that data from theNational Cancer Institute show that people developlymphoma often in states and locations with the highestpesticide use. The report finds that farmers are at thehighest risk for lymphoma.8Dozens of studies in the database confirm the risk tofarmers and other pesticide applicators.Prostate Cancer – Cancer of the prostate, a gland of themale reproductive system, is the second most commoncancer among American men, with one in six mendiagnosed during their lifetime. It is also the secondleading cause of death for American men. Incidence anddeath trends show that prostate cancer has beenslightlydecreasing since 1994.At publication, the database lists 23 studies linkingpesticides to prostate cancer. Studies show elevated ratesof prostate cancer in Vietnam veterans exposed to AgentOrange and to farmers and others with occupationalpesticide exposure. A study published in 2003 in theInternational Journal of Cancer shows that individualswho have worked in agriculture have a 40% increasedrisk of having prostate cancer over the generalpopulation.9Other studies suggest that endocrine disruption is likelyto be a mechanism for developing this type of cancer.Soft Tissue SarcomaCancer that begins in the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue,blood vessels, or other supporting tissue of the body,known as soft tissue sarcoma, is uncommon, yet risk isincreased with exposure to certain chemicals, radiationtherapy and certain genetic diseases.At publication, the database lists 7 studies linkingpesticides to soft tissue sarcoma. A 1995 case-controlstudy of Denver children finds that yard pesticideapplications are linked to a four-fold increase in risk tosoft tissue sarcomas (OR 4.0).10Other studies associate living near agricultural areas withthe disease.Other Cancers – With so many pesticides on the marketand possible combinations for exposure, there are scoresof different types of cancers with scientific links topesticides. As the President’s Cancer Panel points out,“Approximately 40 chemicals classified by theInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) asknown, probable, or possible human carcinogens, are usedin EPA-registered pesticides now on the market.”At publication, the database lists 105 studies linkingpesticides to other types of cancers. These include cancerof the bladder, bone, cervix, colon, eye, gallbladder,kidney/renal, larynx, lip, liver, lungs, mouth, esophagus,ovarian, pancreas, rectum, sinus/nasal, stomach, testiclesand thyroid, as well as melanoma (a form of skin cancer),multiple myeloma (cancer of the plasma cells of bonemarrow) and neuroblastoma (cancer of the nerve cells).Developmental and Learning DisordersRoughly one in six children in the U.S. has one or moredevelopmental disabilities, ranging from a learningdisability to a serious behavioral or emotional disorder.Scientists believe that the amount of toxic chemicals in theenvironment that cause developmental and neurologicaldamage are contributing to the rise of physical and mentaleffects being found in children. Studies show children’sdeveloping organs create “early windows of greatvulnerability” during which exposure to pesticides cancause great damage. In the U.S., requirements for testingpesticides and other chemicals for potential developmentaland learning disorders are minimal.A developing brain is much more susceptible to the toxiceffects of chemicals than an adult brain. Duringdevelopment, the brain undergoes a highly complex seriesof processes at different stages. Interference from toxicsubstances that disrupt these processes can havepermanent consequences. That vulnerability extends fromfetal development through infancy and childhood toadolescence. Research has shown that environmentaltoxicants, such as pesticides, at low levels of exposure canhave subclinical effects—not clinically visible, but stillimportant adverse effects, such as decreases in intelligenceor changes in behavior.Continued on page 4342-- Traditional African Clinic July 2013